Five Banded Barbs

[Pacific]

Picked up 5 of these from the LFS this afternoon. Had never seen them before and was told there ideal for a community aquarium, similar in appearance to Tiger Barbs just without the fin nipping. They were in a tank with Harlequin Rasboras so figured they'd be great. Sure enough there very active peaceful fish and getting on fine in my tank.

One of them tho has completely changed colour in a matter of hours of being in my tank and im sure another one of them is darkening up. The darkest one is now almost completely black and you cant make out the bands that well anymore. Behaviour appears exactly the same as when they were the 'original' colour and no sign of the fish being ill or anything and they are still all swimming around the tank in a group. Just cant seem to find that much info on the fish and wondering if this colour change thing is normal?

 

[Gaz_S]

Also called Pentazona barb, my dad bought these after looking for a shoaling fish to go with his angels. They looking amazing in a well planted tank with good lighting. Blacks, browns, reds and even a green sheen on the bands! Really nice fish!

 

[ian]

they will colour up nicely when they settle. I have 5 in my tank and they just school and patrol the bottom of the tank. A really nice, peaceful barb. As they get older they show some really good colours.

 

[Pacific]

Just fed them and the black one of the group seems to be changing colour again, back to something more like the other 4.

Guess the colour changing is normal then, panic over

 

[stang1]

Some fish can darken or lighten just through stress so sounds as though there is nothing to worry about.
The males will develop a lot more red in their fins and body as they mature, whereas the females will stay quite light. Beautiful fish and one of my favourites.